By Pascal Ibe

On Saturday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson in Nigeria, claimed that only seven persons were killed so far in the ongoing hardship protests nationwide.

In a statement on Saturday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police public relations officer (PPRO), refuted the report by human rights organisation, Amnesty International that 13 people killed by security agencies as of Thursday night — six in Suleja, Niger; four in Maiduguri, Borno; and three in Kaduna.

Adejobi said four casualties were recorded in Borno while 34 persons were severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED).

“There was another incident reported in Yauri, in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State where a group of individuals mobilised to loot a shop. In the process, a local vigilante man shot and killed one of the looters.

“The Commissioner of Police in charge of Kebbi State is currently investigating the incident. This brings the total number of deaths recorded during the protests to seven (7).

As nationwide protests enters Day 4, Nigerians say they are demonstrating over food shortages and accusations of misgovernment and corruption in Africa’s most populous country.

Verification

Verifying this claim by Nigeria Police that only seven persons were shot dead in last three days of the protests, first, at least six people were killed while some sustained injuries in the ongoing protest in Suleja, Niger State on Thursday, according to DailyTrust.

The victims were said to have been killed while security operatives were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted barricade on a section of Abuja-Kaduna highway.

In Kano, no fewer than three persons were said to have been killed during Thursday hunger protest in Kano State.

An eyewitness who craved for anonymity told Journalists in Kano, that the incident occurred along the state road, a key location of the protests.

He said a protester who refused to disperse despite warning by security forces, was gun down by a police officer in front of the gate leading to the government house.

In Kaduna, Reuters reported three persons lost their lives on Thursday as results as results of the protests.

In Katsina State, the “EndBadGovernance” protest in Nigeria took a deadly turn on Thursday, as two people lost their lives and some churches were vandalized.

The protest began peacefully but quickly escalated into violence.

In Yobe State, three protesters were shot dead by security operatives while attempting to vandalize food storage facilities belonging to some international non-governmental organizations in Potiskum town, Yobe State.

Verdict

The claim by Nigeria police spokesperson, Adejobi Olumuyiwa, that only seven persons have been killed in ongoing nationwide protests is FALSE.

Available data from credible news organizations , stated over 22 persons have killed so far in the protests.